Amusement device.



Patented June 11, 1918.

3 SHILETS-SHEET I.

Il um 'I A. M. HENRY.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29. 1915.

Patented .I 11110 11, 1918 3 SHtEIS-SHEET 2.

A. M. HENRY.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY-29.1916.

1L ,@@9,Q?9u Patented June 11, 1918.

3 $HEETS-SHEET 3- k 2:073 ,49

plication, matured into specification.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patqgntedl J 111111119 111,

Application filed July 29, 1916. Serial No. 111,979.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS M. HENRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the; following is a This invention relates to games of skill, and more particularly'to shooting galleries; either for providing private amusement or for public use in consideration of a fee or charge, or otherwise, and may be carriedout by embodying the essentialfeatures of any known game or contest, such'as baseball, football, lacrosse, polo, cricket, etc., in a shooting gallery or the like, so constructed that any person may exercise his skill or aim, in connection therewith, to effect recordation of various characteristic features of the particular game thus embodied.

The invention has for its object the provision of an improved target of the kind described and illustrated but not claimedin my former application No. 582609,fi1ed September 19, 1910. This former application has, since the filing of this \present ap- Patent, N 0. 1,193,260. I h present invention involves the provision of several targets at different points in the path of advance of a player in a game, as the base points of a base-ball field, in combination with indicati g or controlling meansfcontrolled by the targets when they are fired at and hit in predetermined succession. The present application, therefore, is a continuation of said former application 1 No. 582609, being based on a partial struc-- tural disclosure therein.

The present invention, and other objects and aims thereof, will be'fully understood from the following.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the inven.

tion, Figure l is a front elevation of the apparatus; Fig.2 is a section on the line 2 2v of Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a rear elevation, showing the bulbs, the magnets, and the parts operated by the magnets; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the locking, means and e the segmental target and contacts associated therewith,-looking in=the direction of the arrow 4 of Fig. 3, with the board assumed outon the line 4=-4 of Fig. 3; Figs. 5, 6, 7

and 8 show in rear elevatlon fragments-of the board adjacent the various locking means for the first, second and third base and home- 'rocking plate 21 indicated in Fig.

plate segmental targets, with these locking wiring for the bulbs and magnets of Fig. 3 A

and the contacts of Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The background or supporting board 10 is provided with a representation of a baseball field as shown in Fig. 1, the pitchers position being indicated by a slot 11 and the home plate being indicated at 12. The endless'band 13, on which the baseball 14 is painted, is continuously driven at a uniform speed in the direction of the arrows of Figs. 1 and 3. The band passes through the ppper slot 11 and a lower slot 15 and over the idler roller16, one'of which rollers is driven by a motor 17 suitably energized. During the operation of the motor the ball is thus at regular intervals apparently pitched down from the pitcher to the catcher.

Adjacent the home plate 12 is a sevensegment target 18; adjacent first base is a six-se ent target 19; adjacent second base is a ve-segment target .20; and adjacent third base is a four-segment target 21. As indicated, each segment of these four targets is fixed on its own rod 22, normally held a a bullet thereagainst, except at such times.

as they 'are released by electromagnetic means controlled by held locking means are provided to co act with the ends of the rods 22 which protrude beyond the. rear face of the supporting board. The locking means provided for the third base target 21 is disclosed very clearly in Fig. 4. This locking'means comprises a parallel links 25. he plate is normally held n locking position by means of a pair of sufiiciently strong retractile springs 26. As 3, similarly mounted spring-held plates 20, 19 and 18 are pro- Vided, respectively, for the second base tarthe band 13, spring-' ivotally mounted on four get 20, the first base target 19 and the home plate target 18.

The movable armatures 27 of the sole noi'ds 21, 20*, 19 'and 18 are attached to the. rocking plates by links 28. Thus while any one of such solenoids is energized, the appropriate rocking plate is elevated by .a

Such circuits are clearly shown in Fig. 9,

and will be hereinafter described in detail.

Interposed in a suitable circuit or circuits, also shown clearly in Fig. 9, and hereinafter: described in detail, are a bulb 18 and a plurality of solenoids 19 20 and 21 The bulb and solenoids are normally deenergized, since the circuits within which the same are interposed are *all shown. tains the ear and latch in engagement to normally gaped at one of the contacts 31 shown best'in Figs.4 to 8' inclusive.

The first base solenoid 19 when energized, pushes on the loose armature therein pivoted to an arm offset from a first base signal 32 pivoted as indicated. This signal, due to the sprin 34, is normally in the illustrated indicative position relative to the base opening 19 and in that osition may indicate the fact that a man s not on the base or has just been put out at the base. As soonas the solenoid 19 is energized,however the signal 32 swings up and exposes the word Safe through the opening 19 an ear carried by the signal becoming locked above a tooth 36 on a latch 37 pivoted as A compression spring 38 mainhold the signal in its elevated safe position until the latch is positively released.

' "A second base. opening 20 and a third base opening 21 are similarly equipped with similar signals and latches to cooperrate as described when the solenoids 20 and 21 are energized Thus asafe i dication may be given at the first, second and third bases by means of the solenoids 19 20 and 21*. As to the home-plate, it ispreferred to give it merely a momentary safe indication, since such an I indication at that base registers the scoring of a run; and consequently the bulb 18 is located behind the home-plate opening 18 ,.to momentarily illuminate the translucent insert 18 l,

In order to ositively release the latches 37 when say t e efforts of a contestant or a pair'of contestants'are concluded, thereby to reset'the apparatus for a new contest,

magnets 19, 20 and 21, normally deenergized, are positioned {adjacent the free' endshof the latches. These magnets are interposed in a common circuit, normally open 2 but adapted to be closed manually, all as hereinafter describedin detail in'connection with Fig. 9.

mama

Inter-posed in a suitable circuit or circuits, also shown clearly in Fig. 9 and hereinafter described in detail, are a plurality of out bulbs 1D, 1), D." Each bulb is posi- .tioned in back of a translucent insert 39 set in right, center and left field openin .40. Each of these bulbs is adapted to give a momentary flash to illuminate the adjacent insert 39 to indicate say a ffly-out to the appropriate field position.

he collars 24 on the target-segment rods 22, and the individual contacts 31 for each of such collars, shown structurally most clearl in Fig. 4 are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9, this figure being a diagrammatic representation of the arrangement of the electrically operated parts and their cir- -cuits as carried on the rear of the supporting board 10, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus the group of collars and contacts at the bottom of Fig. 9 correspond to the group similarly placed on Fig. 3, that is, belong to the homeplate target 18; and the similar groups shown at the top, right and left. of Fig. 9

correspond to the groups to the top, left orscoring value of the appropriate target se%nent.

eferrmg now to the circuits --of Fig. 9

the solenoids 18 19 20 and 21 are normally deenergized to look all the target segments against vibration, since the strip 29 on the traveling belt 13 has not yet bridged the contacts 30, and therefore these solenoids are interposed in parallel branches of an open circuit as follows: Starting from the battery 41, a wire 42 leads to one of the contacts 30, the other contact 30 having a wire 43 leading therefrom to ground and having interposed therein the solenoid 20-. A wire 44 leads from the wire 43 to ground and has interposed therein the solenoid 21. A Wire 45 leads from the wire 44 to ground and has interposed therein the solenoid 19 And a wire 46 leads from the wire 45 to ground and has interposed therein the solenoid 18-. Thus all these solenoids will be bridging the contacts 30, and not otherwise;

and while the contacts are thus bridged, all

the locking plates of Fig. 3 will be moved away from the rear of the supporting board 10- to permit all the collars 24 to vibrate with the target segments. Then and then only may a target segmentbe struck to cause a collar 24 to touch its coiiperant contact 31 and thus bring about an actuation of one of the result-recording instrumentalities.

Deferring for a moment further description of the circuits of Fig. 9, a playing of the game according to the present embodiment meagre is started by firing first at the home-plate target 18 until a base hit is made, that is, until one of the segments of the target 18 is struck thereby to cause a safe indication -to be given by one of the signals 32. If

such'a safe indicationabe given on the first base opening 19 the first base target 20 is thereafter fired at until a base hit is made;

- base opening 21 the third base target 21 would thereafter be fired at until a base hit is made; while obviously if such a safe indication was given by a flashing of the bulb 18 that is, if a home run was made, the

first base target would again be fired at as before in an endeavor to score another run. When a player is firing at the first base target' 19, after successfully playing at the home target as described, various suitable indications may be obtained as the result of firing at such first base target 19, but in such case, however, the number of positive indications is only three, that is, a one base,

two base or three base advance, and hence the first base target has one less segment than the home-plate target.

In the same way, after successfully playing at the homeplate and first base targets, or after a second base advance from the former, one of two safe indications may be obtained as the result of firing at the second base target 20; that is, a one base or a two base advance, and hence the second base target has two less segments than the home-plate target In the same way, and after successful plays at the home-plate, first base and second base targets, or at one or more thereof, a safe indication may be obtained as the result of firing at the third base target, but only one such indication, since in the actual game a base runner on third base can do no more than make a one base advance, that is, come home.

Thus the home-plate target is provided with four segments 1, 2, 3 and H indicating respectively, one, two and three base advances and a home run. In the same way the first base target 19 is provided with three segments 1, 2 and 3 indicating respectively, one, two and three base advances. In the same Way the second base target 20 is provided with two segments 1 and 2 indicatingrespectively one and two base advances. And in the same way the third base target 21 is provided with one segment 1 indicating a one base advance.

But all the four targets are provided with three segments lettered L, C and R indicating respectively an out to left field, center field andright field.

Referring again to Fig. 9, assume that the strip 29 has bridged the contacts 30 and 'con Upon striking the segment H of the target 18, the segment 3 of the target 19, the

segment 2 of the target 20 or the segment 1 of the target 21, a run is registered by "a momentary flashing of the bulb 18 This fsequently all the target segments are free" .to vibrate when struck by a missile.

1s so because of the following connections:

A wire 47 leads from the battery 41 and has branches each of which goes to one of the contacts 31. From the collar 24 on the rod 22 which supports thev segment H of the target 18 a wire 48 having the bulb interposed therein leads to ground back to the battery. From the collar 24 associated with the segment 3 of target 19 a Wire 49 leads to the wire 48, to the bulb, to ground, backv to the battery. From the collar 24 associated with the segment 2 of the target 20, a wire 50 leads to the wire 49, to the wire 48, to the bulb, to ground, back to the battery. And from the collar 24 associated with the segment 1 of the target 21 awire 51 leads to the wire 49, to the wire 48, to the bulb, to ground, back to the battery.

Upon striking the segment 3 of the target 18, the segment 2 of the target 19, or the segment 1 of the target 20 a man on third is registered by the actuation of solenoid 21 This is so because of the following connections, in addition to the wire 47 which leads from battery .41 and has branches each of which goes to oneof the contacts 31. From the collar 24 associated with the segment 3 of the target 18 a wire the collar 24 associated with the segment 2 of the target 19 a wire 53 leads to the wire 52, to the solenoid, to ground, back to the battery. And from the collar 24 associated with the segment 1 of the target 20 a wire 54 leads to the wire 52 to the solenoid, to ground, back to the battery.

Upon striking the segment 2 of the target 18 or thesegment 1 of the target 19, a man on second is registered by an actuation of the solenoid 20 This is so because of the following. connections, in addition to the Wire 47 which leads from the battery 41 and has brancheseach of which goes to one-of the contacts 31. From the collar 24 associated with the segment 2 of the target 18 a wire 55 having the solenoid 20 interposed therein leads to ground,

back to the battery. And from the collar 24 associated with the segment 1 of the target 19 a wire 56 leads to the wire 55, to the solenoid, to ground, back to the battery.

Upon striking the segment 1 of the target 18, a man on first is registered by an actuation of the solenoid 19 'This is so because of the following connections, in addition to the wire 47 which leads from the battery 41 and has branches each of which goes to one of the contacts 31. From the collar 24associated with the segment 1 of the target 18 a wire 100 having the solenoid 19 interposed therein leads to ground back to the battery.

Upon striking the segment L on any of the four targets, an out to left field is registered by a momentary flashing of bulb D. This is so because of the following connections, in addition to the wire 47 which leads from the battery 41 and has branches each of which goes to one of the contacts 31. From the collar 24 associated. with the L segment of the target 18 a wire 57 having the bulb D interposed therein leads to ground, back to the battery. From the collar 24 associated with the L segment of the target 19 a wire 58 leads to the wire 57 to the bulb, to ground, back to the battery. From the collar 24 associated with the L segment of the target 20 a Wire 59 leads to the wire 57 to the bulb, to ground, back to the battery. And from the collar 24 associated with the L segment of the target 21 a wire 60 leads to the wire 59, to the wire 57, to bulb, to ground, back to the battery. 1

Upon striking the segment C of any of the four targets, an out to center field is registered by a momentary flashing of bulb D. This is so because of the following connections, in addition to the wire 47 which leads from the battery 41 and has branches each of which goes to one of the contacts 31. From the collar 24 associated with the C segment of the target 18 a wire 61 having interposed therein the bulb D leads to ground, back to the battery. From the collar 24 associated with the C segment of the target 19 a wire 62 leads to the wire 61, to the bulb, to ground, back to the battery. From the collar 24 associated with the C segmentof the target 20 a wire 63 leads to the wire 61, to the bulb, to ground, back to the battery. And from the collar 24 associated with the C segment of the target 21 .a wire 64 leads to the wire 61, to the bulb,

to ground, back to the battery.

Upon striking the se ment R in any of the four targets an out to right field is registered by a momentary flashing of the bulb D. This is so because of the following connections, in addition to the wire 47 which leads from the battery 41 and has branches each of which goes to' one of the contacts 31. From the collar 24 associated with the R segment of the target 18 a wire 65 having the bulb D interposed therein leads to ground, back to the battery. From the collar 24 associated with the R segment of the target 19 a wire 66 leads to the wire 65, to the bulb, to ground, back to the battery. From the collar 24 associated with the R segment of the target 20 a wire 67 leads to'the wire 65, to the bulb, to ground, back to the battery. And from the collar 24 associated Withthe R segmentof target 21 a wire 68 leads to the wire 65, to the bulb, to ground, back to the battery.

In order that a normally open circuit may be manually closed to simultaneously energize all of the three magnets 19, 20 and 21 so as to bring about a positive release of the latches 36 relative to such indicators 32 as are in safe position, when desired, the following connections are provided From battery 41 a wire 69 leads to a switch 70, and from the switch a wire 71 leads to the magnet 19, to ground, back to the battery. From the wire 71 leads a Wire 72 to the magnet 20", to ground, back to the battery. And from wire 72 leads a wire 73 to the magnet 21, to ground, back to, the battery.

It will thus be seen that a rifieman may play the game as follows: First he fires at the target 18, but none of the segments are free to close any of the circuits gaped at the collars 24 unless the ball 14 is actually passing over the plate 12 at the instant he fires. If he hits the segment H of this target and causes it to vibrate, a run will be flashed at 18. If he hits one of the segments L, C or R of this target, he will fly out to left, center or right field. If he hits one of the segments 1, 2 or 3 of this target, he gets a safe indication at 19 20 or 21*. If he makes a safe advance to either of these three base points, he commences firing at the target adjacent that point. The segments of the targets at these three points are also prevented from vibrating. unless the ball 14 is passing over the plate 12. When firing at either of the four targets 18, 19, 20 or 21, a striking of any one of the segments L, C or R will put him out at left, center or right field. When firing at the target 19, he can advance to second base or to third base or else come home. When firing at the target 20, he can advance'to third base or come home. When firing at the target 21, he can come home. He can thus keep firing, making as many runs as he chooses, until he strikes one of the segments L, C or R and thereby registers an out. One rifleman may play the game alone, or two or more can compete; for instance, two riflemen may commence the game together, one endeavoring to make as many runs as possible before the other succeeds in causing Y meagre first named target to cause an actuation of the signal at said succeeding target.

2. Apparatus'of the kind described comprising a board having thereon the representation of a baseball field including base points, a two-part target at one base point, a signal adjacent the succeedin base point, means operative upon the striking of one of the two target parts at the first named base point for causing an actuation of the-signal at the succeeding base point, a second signal, and means operativeupon the striking of the other target-part at the first named base point to cause actuation of said second signal.

3. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a board having thereon the representatlon' of a baseball field including base points, a target at one of said base points, a target at the next succeeding base point, a signal at said succeeding base point, means operative upon the striking of the first means operative upon the striking of one of the two target-parts at the first named base point for causing an actuation of the signal at the succeeding base point, a second signal, means operative upon the striking of the other target-part at the first named base point to cause actuation of said second signal, and a moving member controlling said targets. n

5. Apparatus of the kind described comprising-a board having thereon the representation of a baseball field including base points, a target at one of said base points, a target at the next succeeding base point, a signal at said succeeding base point, and electro-ma etic means operative upon the striking o the first named target to cause an actuation of thesignal at said succeeding target. a

6. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a board having thereon the representation of a baseballfield including base points, a two-part target at one base point, a signal adjacent the succeeding base point, electro-magnetic means operative upon the striking of one of the two target-parts at the first named base point for causing an ac tuation of the signal at the succeeding base point, a sec'ond signal,and electro-magnetic means-operative upon the striking of the other target part at the first named base to cause actuation of said second signal.

7. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a board having thereon the re resentation of a base ball field including ase points, a target at one of said base points, a target at the next succeeding base point, a signal at said succeeding base point, electro-magnetic means operative upon the striking of the first named target to cause an actuation of the signal at said succeeding target, and a moving member controlling said targets.

8. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a board having thereon the representation of a baseball field including base points, a two-part target at one base polnt,

electro-magne'tic means operative upon the striking of one of the two target-parts at the first named base point for cauSing an actuation of the signal at the succeedlng base point, a second signal, electro-magnetlc means operative upon the striking of the other target-part at the first named base to cause actuation of said second signal, and

a moving member controlling said targets.-

9. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a board having thereon the repre sentation of a baseball field including base points, a multi-part target at each base point, and safe and out signals controlled by said targets.

c 10. Apparatus of the kind descrlbed comprising aboard having thereon the representation of a baseball field including base points, a multi-part target at each base point, safe and out signals controlled by said targets, and a moving element supervising the control of said signals by sa1d targets.

11. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a board having thereon the representation bf a baseballfield including base points, a multi-part target at each base point,

safe and out signals controlled by said targets, and electro -mechanical means through which said control isefiected.

12. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a board having thereon the representation of a baseball field includmg base points, a multi-part target at each base point, safe and out signals controlled by said targets, a moving element supervis ing the control of said signals by sa1d targets, and electro-mechanical means whereby said control and said supervision are effected.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature. AUGUSTUS M. HENRY.

a signal adjacent the succeeding base point, 7 

